"On this island survival is not a game"

Film Synopsis:

Get lost in the hottest series of the year. From J.J. Abrams, the creator of Alias, comes the action-packed adventure that became a worldwide television event. Stranded on an island that holds many secrets, 48 people must band together if they hope to get home alive.

My Take:

When Lost debuted in 2004 we were anxious to see what it was all about. The trailers we had seen looked intriguing. Needless to say we were not disappointed. The show featured a fresh writing, suspense filled moments, and character driven storylines that were captivating. The weekly entanglements were addicting as we found ourselves tuning in to see what the island had in store for the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. Character connection and development are strong, the writing is conceptually creative and fresh, and the thrills/action are engaging and continuous. Not only do the survivors have to contend with being marooned on an island with little hope of rescue but the island itself holds dark, ominous perils that defy explanation. This is in addition to the unexplained phenomena such as those stricken with paralysis before arriving on the island suddenly being able to walk, or visions of dead loved ones. Lastly, is their discovery of the presence of the others who are people that inhabit the island. Their origination and purpose aren't readily clear however their intention to infiltrate and abduct the survivors leaves everyone suspicious and not knowing who to trust. Amidst all of this we are treated to the continuing interpersonal relationships that ebb and flow among the survivors. This is where the show excels as the main character base has excellent depth. The season plays out carefully over its 25 episodes as the intensity of the storyline and depth of the characters is peeled back in layers. Many questions loom, some unanswered, others, left up to interpretation but there is never any doubt that each episode has something interesting, exciting and entertaining in store. Creators J.J. Abrams, Jeffrey Lieber and Damon Lindelof struck gold with Lost. Its blend of character driven drama, interpretative/open ended plotlines, science fiction and action/adventure make it one of the most original, enthralling, and entertaining television series ever. Season 1 contains some of the shows best elements, which includes the outstanding pilot episode. As I watched these episodes that I have already seen I found myself totally engrossed, again. The series is spread over seven dual layered BD-50 Blu-ray discs and features Disney's excellent Season Play feature which keeps track of where viewers left off via a profile selectable memory. Whether you're a fan or have never seen Lost this complete season 1 set on Blu-ray makes for an engaging experience that is required viewing.

Parental Guide:

**My audio/video ratings are based upon a comparative made against other high definition media/blu-ray disc.**

(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)

Audio: 90

Dynamics:

Low frequency extension:

Surround Sound presentation:

Clarity/Detail:

Dialogue Reproduction:

Video: 88

(Each rating is worth 4 points with a max of 5 per category)

Resolution/Clarity:

Black level/Shadow detail:

Color reproduction:

Fleshtones:

Compression:

Lost: The complete first season comes to Blu-ray Disc featuring 1080p AVC encoded video that has an average bitrate of 21 mbps and lossless DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio sound that has an average bitrate of 2.3 mbps.

In reviewing my notes I saw that many of my comments regarding this video presentation closely mimicked those from my Blu-ray review of Lost: Season Four. Here are my remarks from that review:

I was happy with the quality of this video presentation as it looked reminiscent of what the show looked like when it was broadcast in high definition. I always thought it looked very good for cable TV in high definition. Colors are visually stimulating with deeply saturated hues that easily convey the lush jungles, coastline vistas and landscapes on the island. Skin tones are beautifully rendered with excellent tonal quality, lifelike texture and diverse complexional highlights. Images are crisp with defining textural detail, stable sharpness and two dimensional perspective that enhances long range camera shots. Blacks are strong with good delineation and shadow detail offers visible gradational depth in dark backgrounds and low lit sequences. A few of the darker sequences looked a little noisy but it wasn't quantifiable or problematic.

There is a thin veil of grain that permeates the video. It occasionally takes on more prominence but rendering is natural and unobtrusive. The high resolution DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is superb. This mix generates an active sound field filled with discrete/directional effects that can bombard the senses. Solid dynamic quality and crystal clarity help enhance the sometimes tumultuous and fairly aggressive nature of the mix during action based sequences. The variable depth of the soundstage is appreciable as the sounds of the island creates an immerse soundscape that encases the sweet spot. Bass is deep and room penetrating as low frequency energy resonates with authority and tactile purpose. Sound effects are well placed and are executed with transparent precision that can sometimes be jarring. Dialogue is full bodied, well intonated and aurally descriptive throughout. This is a highly detailed, involving and fairly complex surround mix that I found to be quite impressive.

Bonus Features:

Five audio commentaries featuring comprehensive discussions with series creators, several members of the cast members, and production staff

Three segmented features - Departure, Tales from the island and Lost revealed:

Departure - 6 featurettes:

The genesis of Lost

Designing a disaster

Before they were Lost

Welcome to Oahu: The making of the pilot

The art of Matthew Fox

Lost @ Comicon

Tales from the island - 3 featurettes:

Lost on location

On the set with Jimmy Kimmel

Backstage with Driveshaft

Lost revealed - 5 featurettes:

The Lost flashbacks

Deleted scenes

Bloopers

Live from the Museum of Television & Radio

Flashbacks & Mythology

Disney Season Play

D-Box Motion Code enabled

Final Thoughts:

Lost: The complete first season is arguably the shows best but that of course is a matter of opinion. It is my personal favorite and there is no disputing that its high definition debut from Disney Blu-ray Disc is simply marvelous. This is a well rounded package that features excellent audio/video quality, Disney's viewer friendly Season Play feature, and a comprehensive set of bonus supplements that serve as the icing on the cake. Not to be missed, this is a must own for fans of the show. If you have never seen Lost this makes for a perfect introduction.

I have to agree with Mr. Potts, i think the first season was the best.

Season 1 and Season 4 have been my favorite so far. Season 5 (last season) is probably 3rd.
Season 2 was the worst.... all that digging to get to the hatch in season 1, just to find out the F'ing thing had a side door!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have to agree with Mr. Potts, i think the first season was the best.

Don't have a "worst" season personally (even the oft-maligned 3rd season did eventually pay off - and will continue to do so thru S6), but next to the 1st I would say the most recent (5th) has been the "best" so far.

Money does not buy happiness. It can, however, buy you a giant boat that you can pull up alongside happiness. - David Lee Roth